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Hopes rise as new satellite beams web to rural users

The first Sky Muster being launched in French Guiana in 2015.

The first Sky Muster being launched in French Guiana in 2015. Photo: AAP

The second Sky Muster satellite, built for the National Broadband Network (NBN), will be launched this week from French Guiana in South America.

However, it comes after a particularly difficult week for the network and even previously satisfied customers say they are frustrated and not getting the network the NBN promised.

NBN said it experienced a “temporary outage” affecting its first Sky Muster satellite, sparking a large number of complaints.

nbn

NBN Co-CEO Bill Morrow announces better-than-expected growth in August. Photo: AAP

Kristy Sparrow, from the group Better Internet For Rural, Regional and Remote Australia, said a large number of people are still unable to re-connect to the service.

“There’s been numerous problems from no connection at all,” she said.

“There’s also been people that can’t get enough speed to do anything and others who haven’t been able to connect to internet websites like internet banking.”

Ms Sparrow said on Wednesday last week she received an email from her internet provider saying NBN would be carrying out maintenance on its Sky Muster service.

She could not use the internet when she tried the next day and, days later, many are still unable to connect, despite promises of improved services from NBN.

“People are beyond frustrated,” she said.

“[Sky Muster] was sold to them as a game changer, and yet, in reality, that’s not what we’re receiving.”

Portion of data can only be used during sleeping hours

In a statement, a spokesperson for NBN said last week’s issue has been resolved.

“Sky Muster services were affected by a temporary outage last week. This has now been resolved,” the statement said.

“If residents continue to have problems with their Sky Muster connection, they should contact their internet service provider.”

Ms Sparrow said while her internet service provider has been cheaper and faster than her previous service, the roll-out of Sky Muster has been riddled with problems.

A Facebook page established by the group has been inundated with reports of dodgy installations and drop-outs, as well as issues with latency — the time it takes for information to travel from computers to the satellite.

There are also complaints about constrictive limits on data usage.

-ABC

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